2010 BRITISH F3 NATIONAL CLASS CHAMPION

24th June 2009

IDAFAR SECOND FASTEST ON OPENING DAY OF SNETTERTON TEST

Formula Renault UK racer Menasheh Idafar produced his most competitive performance of the year at Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk this afternoon, Wednesday, 24th June, by ending the opening day of official championship testing with the second fastest time overall.

Returning to action in very relaxed and confident mood, the 18-year-old lapped the 1.95-mile track faster than he ever has before with an effort of 1m04.681 seconds (108.92mph) coming during the fourth of the day’s sessions.

Placing him just 0.169 seconds away from the top of the timesheets, and second fastest of the Graduate Cup runners, the Hillspeed driver now hopes to continue his great form during the second day of testing at Snetterton tomorrow. Thursday’s action will be split into two sessions, morning and afternoon, and will also feature drivers from the club-level Formula Renault BARC Championship.

Beginning today’s outing by taking things steadily as he bedded-in a brand new engine, Menasheh progressed in session two to move into the top 15 as the Hillspeed engineers worked on the set-up of the car.

Happy with the feel of his Formula Renault into session three, more fine-tuning was done before Menasheh moved into the top 10 with the ninth fastest time of 1m05.312 seconds (107.59mph), lapping within just two 10ths of a second of the pace. Using new tyres in session four, the Ortolan and Gulf Computer Services backed teenager then produced his stunning 1m04.681 second lap.

“We’re absolutely delighted with today’s performance from Menasheh”, commented Hillspeed team principal Richard Ollerenshaw, “He arrived at Snetterton very relaxed and focused and the end result of a great day of hard work is that he produced the second fastest time – a fantastic effort.

“We took things gradually this morning as we had to bed-in the new engine and after working on set-up and then fine-tuning that, we took new tyres in the last session and Menasheh did the best time he has ever managed at Snetterton. It was a superb effort and stands us in good stead for the second day tomorrow.”

Day two of the official mid-season Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship test will take place at Snetterton tomorrow, Thursday, 25th June.